Jim Knight

And although I went to school to be a musician and I was a middle school teacher for six years, my real love was in the hospitality industry. And I started working at a local hard rock cafe. And like you, I worked at a frontline position. I was just a host and loved it. But I got to touch basically 7,000 people a day doing something crazy like $35,000 hours, which is unheard of. hospitality.

But, you know, your skills grow real quick. And, you know, we can certainly talk about the service industry. But I think that that mentality, you talk about that through line has really helped me out in any position. And honestly, I get access to a lot of data.

But, you know, your skills grow real quick. And, you know, we can certainly talk about the service industry. But I think that that mentality, you talk about that through line has really helped me out in any position. And honestly, I get access to a lot of data.

But, you know, your skills grow real quick. And, you know, we can certainly talk about the service industry. But I think that that mentality, you talk about that through line has really helped me out in any position. And honestly, I get access to a lot of data.

And I'll tell you, the National Restaurant Association will tell you something like 65% of all Americans will work in that industry as a starting point. They may not end up there. They might not be their career. They're going to go on to whatever it is their school major was or whatever. But you think about in this country, 65% of all people have worked in that industry.

And I'll tell you, the National Restaurant Association will tell you something like 65% of all Americans will work in that industry as a starting point. They may not end up there. They might not be their career. They're going to go on to whatever it is their school major was or whatever. But you think about in this country, 65% of all people have worked in that industry.

And I'll tell you, the National Restaurant Association will tell you something like 65% of all Americans will work in that industry as a starting point. They may not end up there. They might not be their career. They're going to go on to whatever it is their school major was or whatever. But you think about in this country, 65% of all people have worked in that industry.

Man, it just really helps out, I think, when you go on to perhaps do something else in a different industry. So you and I have that in common. I absolutely love that industry.

Man, it just really helps out, I think, when you go on to perhaps do something else in a different industry. So you and I have that in common. I absolutely love that industry.

Man, it just really helps out, I think, when you go on to perhaps do something else in a different industry. So you and I have that in common. I absolutely love that industry.

I never really wanted to be a tipped employee, you know, which like you said, as a server, as a bartender, that seems to be a goal. That's where the money is. And then eventually you almost take a pay cut to be a manager, right? Because you're on salary and you're at the behest of whatever the general manager or the brand wants you to be. I never really wanted to be a tipped employee.

I never really wanted to be a tipped employee, you know, which like you said, as a server, as a bartender, that seems to be a goal. That's where the money is. And then eventually you almost take a pay cut to be a manager, right? Because you're on salary and you're at the behest of whatever the general manager or the brand wants you to be. I never really wanted to be a tipped employee.

I never really wanted to be a tipped employee, you know, which like you said, as a server, as a bartender, that seems to be a goal. That's where the money is. And then eventually you almost take a pay cut to be a manager, right? Because you're on salary and you're at the behest of whatever the general manager or the brand wants you to be. I never really wanted to be a tipped employee.

Like I said, I really, I liked being around people. I worked in probably the busiest restaurant in the world at that time in the early nineties. But I did think at some point I wanted bigger impact and influence and And so I did make the leap to be a manager.

Like I said, I really, I liked being around people. I worked in probably the busiest restaurant in the world at that time in the early nineties. But I did think at some point I wanted bigger impact and influence and And so I did make the leap to be a manager.

Like I said, I really, I liked being around people. I worked in probably the busiest restaurant in the world at that time in the early nineties. But I did think at some point I wanted bigger impact and influence and And so I did make the leap to be a manager.

And I think I was very cognizant of the fact that if I ever was to use my music degree, which I did get, performance and education, and the work that I had done as a middle school teacher, that educational piece, I wanted to pull all of those levers. I knew that I was going to have to be a manager at some point. So I did that really for only about a year, year and a half.

And I think I was very cognizant of the fact that if I ever was to use my music degree, which I did get, performance and education, and the work that I had done as a middle school teacher, that educational piece, I wanted to pull all of those levers. I knew that I was going to have to be a manager at some point. So I did that really for only about a year, year and a half.

And I think I was very cognizant of the fact that if I ever was to use my music degree, which I did get, performance and education, and the work that I had done as a middle school teacher, that educational piece, I wanted to pull all of those levers. I knew that I was going to have to be a manager at some point. So I did that really for only about a year, year and a half.

and then transcended over into the training and development world. That meant I came out of the cafes. I was working at the corporate support center. And ultimately, when my boss left to go do something bigger and better, I was just sort of a natural to move into that role and wound up staying out of, I think, the 21 years.